D'Addario · XL Nickel Bass · 45-65-80-100

D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) in Drop D (bass) on a 34"–37" multiscale scale

45-100 Regular Light, Long Scale, XL Nickel Bass Strings on a bass with a 34"–37" multiscale scale, tuned to Drop D (bass) (G2 D2 A1 D1), pulls 171.5 lb77.8 kg763 N in total and 42.9 lb19.45 kg191 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for a bass. The set is uneven (spread 15.7%). String 4 (D1) deviates most: −24% from the set average.

Total tension: 171.5 lb77.8 kg763 N
Average per string: 42.9 lb19.45 kg191 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 15.7%

Tension per string

The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 45-105 set on a 34" scale in E standard (bass) (43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Length	Tension	vs avg
1	G2	98.0	.045	XLB045	wound	34"	42.5 lb19.29 kg189 N	−1%
2	D2	73.4	.065	XLB065	wound	35"	51.3 lb23.28 kg228 N	+20%
3	A1	55.0	.080	XLB080	wound	36"	45.0 lb20.41 kg200 N	+5%
4	D1	36.7	.100	XLB100	wound	37"	32.6 lb14.81 kg145 N	−24%
Total							171.5 lb77.8 kg763 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 34" (treble) to 37" (bass).

Similar sets in Drop D (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EPS165	45-65-85-105	41.8 lb18.96 kg186 N	167.2 lb75.8 kg744 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 14652	45-65-80-100	42.2 lb19.14 kg188 N	168.7 lb76.5 kg751 N	medium	uneven
EXL170 (this page)	45-65-80-100	42.9 lb19.45 kg191 N	171.5 lb77.8 kg763 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 14677	45-65-85-105	44.3 lb20.09 kg197 N	177.2 lb80.4 kg788 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario NYXL45105	45-65-85-105	44.3 lb20.11 kg197 N	177.3 lb80.4 kg789 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 14052	45-65-80-100	44.8 lb20.34 kg199 N	179.4 lb81.4 kg798 N	medium	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D (bass), 34"–37" multiscale

Ranked by how close every string is to 43.6 lb19.78 kg194 N (lower deviation is better).

D'Addario EPS165 45-65-85-105 deviation 14.6%, average 41.8 lb18.96 kg186 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL165, NYXL45105
Elixir 14677 45-65-85-105 deviation 14.8%, average 44.3 lb20.09 kg197 N, uneven; same gauges: 14077, 14087
Elixir 14652 45-65-80-100 deviation 15.3%, average 42.2 lb19.14 kg188 N, uneven; same gauges: 14052

More for the EXL170

Other tunings on 34"–37" multiscale: E standard (bass), Eb standard (bass), D standard (bass)

Drop D (bass) on other scales: 34", 35"

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

Sources

D'Addario product page, tension chart for EXL170 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.